Hot Topics:

'Crazy Eyes' actress Uzo Aduba is crazy about fans

Nicole Evatt Associated Press

Posted:
07/28/2014 07:20:21 AM MDT

Click photo to enlarge

In this Tuesday, July 22, 2014 photo, actress Uzo Aduba, a cast member in the Netflix series "Orange is the New Black," poses for a portrait in Los Angeles. Aduba is nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series along with her "Orange" co-stars Laverne Cox and Natasha Lyonne. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvision/AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — "Orange Is the New Black" actress Uzo Aduba is flooded with marriage proposals these days.

"People on the street, people on Twitter ask, 'Can I be your prison wife?' I'm like you know, 'Name the day and the time,'" Aduba joked.

Aduba plays Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren on the Netflix Inc. original series about a women's prison.

She's nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series along with her "Orange" co-stars Laverne Cox and Natasha Lyonne.

Fan reaction also includes questions about her character's unique hairstyle and her most memorable quotes. "'Chocolate and vanilla swirl,' always. Throwing pie, dandelions, that they're not crazy, they're unique," she said. "For it to be received the way it has been, it's humbling."

For Aduba, the role is much more than Suzanne's quirky hairdo and scene-stealing one-liners. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, the Nigerian-American actress said she's thrilled to be involved in a show that is pushing boundaries and shattering stereotypes.

AP: Is the discussion about the lack of diversity in Hollywood overblown?

Aduba: I don't think it's overblown if I'm speaking candidly. I think the attraction is the freshness of it, the uniqueness of it. I think that's what the thirst is for, something else and different and new with regards to diversity, with regards to gender, with regards to orientation representation, with regards to the number of each of those things on a singular show. I think all of those things brought together is what is exciting and thrilling for people to see on the show.

Advertisement

AP: The series has a number of celebrity fans, including your friend Lupita Nyong'o. How did you meet?

Aduba: We met some years ago in this play 'Eclipsed' (written by) another friend of ours Danai Gurira, who's on 'The Walking Dead.' ... We did (the play) together and she's just so phenomenally talented and just so beautiful from her heart to her work as well. Just like phenomenal.

AP: Nyong'o has had an extraordinary year, including her Oscar win.

Aduba: It makes me proud. It just makes me happy. It makes me want to beam because I root (for her), and if I could have pom-poms, like you know what I mean, I would carry them. ... You feel like this is a person whose head and spirit is of the right place. ... And you stepping into this (success), it's like yes, that's exactly how it should be.

AP: There's a stereotype about women in Hollywood not getting along. Has that been your experience?

Aduba: There is a myth out in the world that women can't work together. And I don't know if it's a chicken or an egg thing or what, but ... it's not true. ... I think it's an idea that is put out there maybe to divide and conquer. ... It's something that I just have to write off as being a lie. If you bring good people together, regardless of their gender ... they're going to collaborate and support each other and that's going to happen. And that's what I feel like I'm a part of on 'Orange.'

AP: What was it like to receive an Emmy nomination?

Aduba: The word is bananas or crazy (pause) eyes. ... I just love to act. I like to make good work. And I like to tell good stories, and I'm just thankful, humbled and grateful that people are enjoying it as much as we enjoyed making it, you know?

AP: Do you have an Emmy dress picked out?

Aduba: I have no idea yet. I dream in color and I have visions of feelings and energies that I would love to feel.

NEW YORK (AP) — Viewers said farewell to Amy Poehler and the gang of Pawnee, Indiana, bureaucrats on NBC's "Parks and Recreation," in a finale that made more of a dent online than on television. Full Story